Reinforcements showed up Saturday to help crews battle the largest uncontained wildfire in Oregon, burning in rugged terrain west of John Day.

The lightning-caused South Fork Complex fire has burned through 60,000 acres of national forestland and private ranchland. The fire, which started July 31, ranks fifth in priority out of 16 major fires burning in the Northwest.

Four 20-person hot shot crews arrived from New Mexico, and four National Guard helicopters dramatically bolstered aircraft assigned to the fire.

A Level 1 evacuation alert – meaning people should be prepared to go – remained in effect on north of the fire, covering ranching country along U.S. 26 east of Dayville, and in the sparsely-populated region on the south side of the fire, along the Izee-Paulina Highway.

A staffed fire lookout on Aldrich Mountain, Forest Service rental cabins and campgrounds in the area were evacuated last week.

The fire is one of two burning in Grant County.

The Bald Sisters Fire, another lightning-triggered blaze, burned through 825 acres on the Malheur National Forest 12 miles east of Prairie City. The fire erupted with such fury last week that fire crews were pulled off direct attack and instead are now working to build containment lines some distance from the active fire. Officials expected the blaze, which so far is no threat to homes, to grow to several thousand acres.

More than 200 people are assigned to the Bald Sisters Fire.

Fire commanders held public meetings in Prairie City and Dayville to brief local residents on their planned tactics and a troublesome weather forecast predicting more lightning and winds.